The silence in the car was heavy. Naomi's mind was loud, and she felt tired despite not actually being tired. She could feel Katie's worry rolling off of her in waves, and she'd been chewing her nails since they'd stepped outside. Effy had used the car lighter to set a fire, driving off before she could even be sure that it would stay lit long enough to burn the mansion down, but Naomi felt like Effy was the kind of girl who had plenty of experience when it came to pyrotechnics. She had called Cook as soon as they were clear, explaining in a soft voice the change of plans.
"If we have to stop, you could have at least picked somewhere nicer," Katie complained as Effy pulled into a motel. Naomi looked up from her lap as the place went by her window.
"We need to wait for Cook without drawing attention to ourselves," Effy explained, hurrying them into the small complex. The man in the office looked bored and half asleep behind the counter, a cup of coffee next to his hand. "One room," Effy said, already counting out bills. She threw the stack on the table. "The extra is yours if you don't ask any questions." The man eyed the money greedily and handed over a key.
"Enjoy your stay," he said pleasantly, snatching the notes off the counter. The room was small and a bit cramped, but it was surprisingly clean.
"We'll leave when Cook gets here. I told him to bring the van, we'll need the extra space to transport Emily back home after we find her," Effy said, locking the door and drawing the curtains against the rising sun. She looked at them both, then sat down on the bed and patted it. Katie glared at Naomi when she sat down, daring her to do the same, but Naomi ignored her and climbed on on Effy's other side. Katie turned away from them both, curled up on her side just like Emily did. Naomi held up her hands, staring intently down at her trembling fingers. She thought about the crack of the man's arm when she broke it, the crunch of the other's neck when Katie snapped it. The taste and feel of blood filling her mouth. She felt Effy's eyes on her.
"It's never easy," she said eventually.
"What isn't?"
"Killing someone. Especially the first time. I haven't forgotten mine. You won't forget yours." Effy laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. It was the only comfort she received. The time it took for Cook to reach them flowed like molasses. She could still feel Katie's rage coupled with Effy's cool anger, her own guilt threatening to overwhelm her. She wondered if the feeling would ever go away, or if she would be forced to live with it for the rest of eternity. She wondered if Effy, the woman who didn't seem to feel anything, was racked by guilt. She wondered if Katie was, or if the older twin didn't remember anything of the time between Cook at the hospital and her sister finding her. She wondered about Emily. If she dies because of me... Naomi thought, covering her face with her hands and sighing. She didn't dare imagine what horrible things the hunter would do to get the information they wanted.
The sound of a car pulling up outside when it came was a welcome break to the silence, but it was only replaced by another after Effy had peeked behind the curtain to check that it was Cook before they all left, trading the darkness of the room for the darkness of the van, leaving their stolen car sitting in the lot and the key on the bed. The windows and body of the van were both black. Naomi caught a glimpse of Cook before she followed Katie. Cook drove, with Effy next to him, leaving Naomi and Katie in the open space of the back. Every now and then, Katie would glare at her, but she didn't breathe a word. Occasionally, she heard Effy giving Cook directions, but it was mostly the rumble of the engine and the bumping of the van on the road, shifting her and Katie around. Naomi bumped against her once, and the venomous look Katie gave her was enough to make her move to the opposite end of the space they shared, and there she had sat, unmoving, for the past hour, while Cook sped along highways and back roads.
It took another two and a half hours to reach the estate, just inside the border. They had no plan other than storm in, find Emily, and get the hell out. Naomi felt like she was being eaten from the inside out. She knew time was short, and the pressure of it all would have been enough to give her a headache a few weeks before. Now all it did was make her jittery and anxious, and make her temper as short and unstable as Katie's. This house wasn't as grand as the one they had left, but it felt intimidating all the same. A sleek car was parked off to the side.
"Pull up under the trees," Effy said. "We'll go around the back. This used to be my parents' estate. We rarely came here, though. But God forbid my parents relinquish any bit of their power or influence or wealth." Bitterness laced Effy's tone. "There are no tunnels beneath this one. If she's not in the proper, they'll have her in the cellar. We stick together, move as a group, and keep our guard up." Effy took the lead, Katie following with Naomi behind her and Cook bringing up the rear, jogging lightly across the grounds. Cook broke down the door with a single well aimed kick. One by one, they searched every room on the four floors, silent as they moved. The home was well kept, obviously lived in recently, but thoroughly abandoned. Katie's frustration grew with each empty room. In the attic, she threw a lamp against the far wall where it shattered loudly and swore even louder.
"She's here, Katiekins," Cook said, leading her out of the room. "We know she is, and now we know where she is. We'll get her out, don't you worry." When Effy and Naomi followed, Naomi caught Katie jerking out of Cook's grasp and rubbing her face.
The door to the cellar, at least, was unlocked. Unfortunately, it seemed to be full of nothing but casks of wine and walls of stone. Katie growled in annoyance, but Cook held her arm firmly again while Effy strode down the rows of spirits to the far wall, running her hand along the rough stone. Naomi fidgeted where she stood near Cook, her arms wrapped around her torso. Effy tested stones, pushing on corners, running her fingers along the edges.
"She's here," Katie hissed. "I can feel it." As if on cue, a scream penetrated the stone. It was muffled by the barrier, but loud enough for it to be clear who it was.
"Emily!" Naomi shouted in response, rushing to join Effy, Katie at her heels, but Effy held up a hand to stop them.
"My family does love their secrets," she muttered, pressing the flat of her hand against a stone. It gave way under her touch, and the false wall swung forward. There, at the end of the short passage, in a white room full of bright lights, was Emily, hanging limply from wall mounted chains. A tall man was standing over her, dressed smartly, with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. There was blood on his hands. On a table near by was a coat and a hat that Naomi swore she'd seen before. The group hovered at the end of the hidden passage, squinting into the bright light. Effy seemed to be the least affected by it, whereas Naomi's eyes felt like they were burning, but even she looked hesitant and afraid. The man turned. Naomi blinked and rubbed her eyes and squinted until her sight adjusted just enough for her to see familiar looking blue eyes and a matching smirk. He looked at each of them in turn, then stared at Effy.
"Hello, little sister."
"Anthony," Effy answered coolly, her voice steady. "I see you've found our friend. If you'd kindly let her go, I won't leave your entrails scattered across the room."
"Isn't she lovely?" Anthony Stonem said to no one in particular. "My sister." Cook was restraining Katie again, with an extreme amount of effort, as she yanked and kicked in an attempt to reach her sister, growling threats under her breath. Naomi couldn't take her eyes off Emily's body, fear striking like a cobra in her stomach. No, no, no, no, no, no. "I'm afraid I can't do that, my darling Lizzy. See, this woman here," he continued, motioning to Emily, "she's an anomaly. A freak of nature. All your kind are, and a great threat to humans."
"Not anymore," Effy said. "You weren't so keen to think this when we were children."
"Ah, but that was a long time ago, dear sister, and my views have changed. Our father taught me what he could never drill into your brain, and it's not until my mission is finished that his spirit will rest in peace."
"I don't want to hurt you, Anthony," Effy said, her voice hard, "but if you don't let her go and let us leave in peace I will, and Father will have to spend eternity unsatisfied. We're not monsters, not anymore." Anthony's smirk vanished from his face, his eyes growing hard.
"Yes, you are," he said, drawing what looked like a small crossbow from the folds of the coat on the table. "And you must be exterminated." Katie howled and burst forward, ripping out of Cook's arms and dashing past Effy.
"Katie, no!" Effy yelled reaching out for her, but Katie was already out of her grasp, jumping on Anthony and forcing him to the ground. With surprising strength, he kicked her off of him as Naomi, Cook and Effy rushed to follow. As soon as the light touched her skin, Naomi understood what had made Effy so hesitant to leave the shadows. It felt like she'd been set on fire. While Effy and Cook moved to help Katie, she only had eyes for Emily. The redhead was stirring now, her eyes open, as she weakly struggled at her bonds.
"Emily," Naomi shouted, skidding to a stop in front of her and holding her face in her hands. "Emily look at me." Emily's eyes, red and dilated, flickered up to her. She yanked at the chains that held her wrists and bared her teeth. Her fangs glistened threateningly in the bright lights. "Emily it's me, it's Naomi. Where's the key to these, where did he put the key?" Emily's lips moved but no sound came out. "Come on, Emily," she pleaded.
"Jacket," Emily managed after another failed try, her voice weak and dry and hoarse, cracking as she croaked out the word. Naomi had to strain to hear over the fight going on behind them. Anthony must have been a piece of work to hold off three people as powerful as her friends. Effy had drawn her brother towards the other end of the room, leaving Naomi a window to search through his coat until her fingers closed around a small key in the right hand breast pocket. When she turned around, Katie was bent over on the floor holding her side with Effy helping her to her feet while Cook grappled with Anthony, who held a stake in one hand. With shaking hands, Naomi fought to unlock the manacles around Emily's wrists, her own skin burning. Emily's was hot to the touch, and the redhead writhed when Naomi brushed it on accident.
"It's okay, Emily," Naomi whispered, dropping the key as soon as she could and supporting Emily's dead weight as her body crumpled. "I'm here." She held Emily draped across her lap, the redhead's face pressed against her neck and shoulder. "Katie!" Naomi looked up, watching as Effy slammed Anthony's head against the wall. It left a dent and a stain of blood and he slumped to the ground. Katie was holding a blood-covered stake, looking paler than usual, the side of her shirt soaked in red. She looked up when Naomi called, her eyes wide. Naomi reluctantly let Katie take Emily from her, Katie's glare booking no room for argument. With ease she lifted her sister, transferring her to Cook when she stumbled and almost fell, flinching in pain. Emily looked small in Cook's arms.
"Get out of here and get into the van," Effy ordered. "I'll join you shortly." She stood over her brother, his weapon in her hand. Naomi could make out the slow rise and fall of his chest. "Now." Naomi followed Cook and Katie, reaching out to support the older twin when she stumbled. Katie repeatedly pushed her hands away.
"I'm fine, Campbell," she said, her voice harsh.
"Fine," Naomi snapped back. The cool dark of the hall felt like heaven against her skin, which continued to burn. Katie and Cook seemed just as uncomfortable. She refused to let herself think about how it must have affected Emily, who spent considerably longer under the lights, and had essentially not fed for over a day. Cook made them wait inside while he pulled the van up as close as he could get to the door, Katie barely able to support Emily's weight but not letting Naomi touch her. Her attitude continued in the car. Several minutes passed in heavy, tense silence until Effy opened the door and got in.
"Drive," she said.
"Is he dead?" Cook asked.
"I said drive, James." The engine started and the van shot forward abruptly as Cook hit the gas. Katie flinched and Emily moaned, tossing and turning until Katie put a hand on her head where it rested in her lap and began to stroke her hair. Emily immediately settled and turned slightly to bury her face against her sister's stomach. Naomi could see the tension in Katie's jaw, and wondered how much effort it was taking for her to not explode. For her part, Naomi curled up in the far corner, absently rubbing at her still burning skin.
"Fucking Cook," Katie muttered, clutching her side again. "Too stupid to think to bring blood with him. Fucking van should have been prepared anyway." Naomi didn't answer, instead hiding her face behind her hands. The ride back took even longer. Cook was shouting at traffic, Katie looked increasingly wan, and Naomi couldn't tell if Emily was getting better, worse, or remaining the same. Occasionally, usually when the van suddenly braked or lurched forward, she'd moan and fidget, but then Katie would shush her and she'd settle down again. As they were nearing Bristol, Effy opened the window between the front and back and poked her head through.
"We're stopping at your house, Naomi," she said. "Get the bag from your room and whatever else you need. Make sure you grab something for Emily."
"Shouldn't we clean her up?" Naomi asked.
"We don't have time. We need to get out of Bristol and back down to Plymouth. Clean clothes will at least make her feel marginally more comfortable. We'll be there in fifteen minutes." She turned back to the road, but left the window open.
Against her still irritated skin, even the cloudy afternoon sky made her uncomfortable, but night was falling swiftly. Thankfully, Gina was out, as she didn't know how she would have explained her current state to anyone, let alone her own mother, since she was more apt to curl up in a ball and cry than come up with any reasonable excuse. The only sounds were the ones she made as she hurried up the stairs, shoving clothes, her laptop, her brush, and a photo of her and her mum into the bag. The only thing she could find for Emily was a spare set of pyjamas that she'd outgrown a few years before. She was done and back in the car within ten minutes, the tightness in her chest growing almost painful as she left her home behind again, almost certain she wouldn't see it for a very long time.
"Give me the clothes," Katie said as soon as Naomi opened the door. She handed them over, shutting the door and settling in the corner, watching as Katie tried to get Emily to cooperate enough to get her undressed, but the redhead was too out of it to comply. Katie glared at Naomi, biting her lip, and then sighed dramatically. "Help me. Hold her. If you perve I'll claw your eyes out." She transferred Emily to Naomi's arms without waiting for an answer and went to work removing her torn clothes. Her trousers went first, revealing a handful of bruises but not much else. Naomi supported Emily's top half against her chest and lap while Katie wrestled her sister's legs into the bottoms Naomi had given her. Gently, she pulled one of Emily's arms through the sleeve of her shirt while Katie dealt with the other. Naomi tried not to look when Katie lifted Emily's shirt over her head, pausing only when Emily groaned slightly, but she couldn't help it. Emily's pale skin was marred by more bruises, with lacerations across her ribs and black patches that looked like burns. There was a puncture wound above her left breast that Katie touched gingerly, her expression frightened.
"What is it?" Naomi asked quietly.
"They tried to stake her," Katie replied. "Whoever it was missed, but not by much." Naomi forced herself to close her eyes when Katie went to remove Emily's ruined bra, remembering the weapon fire she'd heard at the harbour. The mutilated corpse on the ground. When they'd gotten Emily into Naomi's shirt, Katie took her back, and Naomi retreated back to the corner, her hands and arms itching to hold the redhead again.
"Cook?" she asked. Cook grunted.
"What happened to the body?"
"Don't worry about that, Naomikins. S'all taken care of."
"You should be more worried about my fucking sister than some nobody hunter," Katie said, back to stroking Emily's hair away from her face.
"I am worried. You're the one who won't let me near her," Naomi retorted.
"That's because all of this is your fault!" Emily moaned and pushed her face against Katie's stomach again.
"Quiet, children," Effy said. Katie hushed immediately, and resolutely ignored Naomi for the rest of the ride.